Method for identifying a valve model of a valve and valve arrangement provided to

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for identifying a valve model of a valve (7) connected to an actuator (1) having a valve controller (11), the valve comprising a valve element (2) for closing and opening a valve passage (3), in which the valve element is in permanent contact with a non-translating main shaft (4) via a threaded portion (21, 41), in which the main shaft is arranged to transmit a rotational movement only between the actuator and the valve element, the invention relates to a method for identifying a valve model by means of a maximum permissible stroke of a valve element in order to produce a relative movement between the valve element and a spindle during opening and closing of the valve. The invention also relates to a valve arrangement comprising a valve and an actuator having a valve controller, the valve comprising a valve element for closing and opening a valve passage. The valve arrangement is configured to perform the previously described method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for identifying the valve model of a valve connected to an actuator having a valve controller, the valve including a valve element for closing and opening a valve passage, wherein the valve element is in permanent contact with a non-translating spindle via a threaded portion, wherein the spindle is arranged to transmit only rotational movement between the actuator and the valve element to generate relative movement between the valve element and the spindle during opening and closing of the valve, and wherein the method identifies the valve model by the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element and comprises the following steps:

[0002] The valve element is moved to a first end point and a second end point of the valve element stroke by moving the valve element and the spindle relative to each other,

[0003] The valve controller determines the first end point of the valve element stroke as the closed position of the valve, at which the valve element closes the valve passage and the valve controller detects a first jamming of the actuator,

[0004] The valve controller determines the second end point of the valve element stroke as the open position of the valve, at which the valve element contacts a support of the valve or the actuator and the valve controller detects a second jamming of the actuator,

[0005] The valve controller determines a value representing the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element and thus representing the valve model from the total movement of the actuator between the first end point and the second end point, i.e., the value representing the distance between these two end points of the valve element stroke, and

[0006] Outputs the value representing the valve model and thereby identifies the valve model.

[0007] The present invention also relates to a valve arrangement comprising a valve and an actuator having a valve controller, the valve including a valve element for closing and opening a valve passage. The valve arrangement is arranged to perform the method described previously. Background Art

[0008] Valves operated by actuators are used to control fluid flow in various operations. To ensure proper operation of the valve, it is important that the controller controlling the actuator has sufficient information about the valve model operated by the actuator. The correct information must be provided to the controller. Otherwise, proper operation of the valve cannot be ensured.

[0009] The document EP 3 403 012 B1 discloses a method for identifying a valve model and an actuator for controlling the movement of a valve, the method being arranged to identify the valve model. According to document EP 3 403 012 B1, a laterally displaceable spindle transfers the movement of the actuator to the valve stem. The valve model is determined based on the displacement of the spindle between the fully closed position of the valve and another position of the spindle, in the fully closed position of the valve, the spindle and the valve stem are connected to each other. Different valve models are determined based on different dimensions of the valve stem or the valve, which allows for different displacements of the spindle.

[0010] Therefore, the method and device disclosed in this document are not able to identify valve models that rely on non-displaceable rotating spindles. Such rotating spindles do not displace between two definable end positions. Instead, the rotating spindle rotates while remaining in the same position. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is to overcome this problem and to provide an improved method and device that can determine the valve model of a valve operated by an actuator with a rotating spindle, the rotating spindle being used to transmit torque between the actuator and the valve element. This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the valve arrangement according to claim 9. Preferred embodiments are limited by the dependent claims.

[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided a method for identifying the valve model of a valve connected to an actuator having a valve controller. The valve includes a valve element for closing and opening a valve passage, wherein the valve element is in permanent contact with a non-translational spindle via a threaded portion, wherein the spindle is arranged to transmit only rotational movement between the actuator and the valve element to generate relative movement between the valve element and the spindle during opening and closing of the valve, wherein the method identifies the valve model by the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element and includes the following steps:

[0013] Moving the valve element to a first end point and a second end point of the valve element stroke by moving the valve element and the spindle relative to each other,

[0014] The valve controller determines the first end point of the valve element stroke as the closed position of the valve, in the closed position, the valve element closes the valve passage and the valve controller detects a first jamming of the actuator,

[0015] The valve controller determines the second end point of the valve element stroke as the open position of the valve, in the open position, the valve element contacts a support of the valve or the actuator and the valve controller detects a second jamming of the actuator,

[0016] The valve controller determines, from the total movement of the actuator between a first end point and a second end point, a value representing the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element and thus the valve model, i.e., the value representing the distance between these two end points of the valve element stroke, and

[0017] outputs the value representing the valve model and thereby identifies the valve model.

[0018] The permanent contact between the valve element and the non-translating spindle does not occur on the same continuous contact surface. Instead, the valve element and the spindle remain in a threaded connection during their relative movement with respect to each other.

[0019] The valve controller can be connected to an encoder to provide information about the actuator. The valve controller can be used in a subsystem (such as a control loop) that controls the mechanical movement of the actuator. The valve controller determines the misalignment between the electrical position and the mechanical position of the actuator, which is used to determine the moment when the valve element is jammed at either end point. The valve controller can be a PCB with electronic hardware and / or software that can evaluate signals and participate in determining the valve model.

[0020] Thus, the term "valve controller" can be understood in a broad sense and can include additional controller components connected to the valve controller. The valve controller can be arranged to be in close contact with the stator of the actuator and opposite to the spindle position.

[0021] To determine the specific valve model or valve system connected to the actuator, the actuator (such as a stepper motor) can be rotated until the actuator is jammed at two extreme end points. A verification function can be automatically performed that attempts to move the valve element in either direction to check if the valve element is jammed, and then the valve model is determined. The spindle connected to the actuator permanently remains in the same position and causes the valve element to move between the two extreme end points. When the valve controller no longer detects that the actuator is mechanically rotating, the end points are found.

[0022] One of these end points can be set as the "zero point". The actuator can cause the spindle to rotate in one direction until the valve element closes the valve in the fully closed state of the valve and the spindle can no longer be rotated. Thus, the first end point can be determined. Then, the actuator can rotate in the opposite direction until the valve is fully open and the spindle can no longer be rotated. When the valve controller detects that the actuator no longer rotates mechanically, the second end point is also found. Determine the number of electronic steps taken between these two end points. The electronic steps correspond to the number of pulses supplied to the actuator (such as a stepper motor). The mechanical movement is reflected by the valve controller. The number of electronic steps corresponds to the maximum possible valve stroke. The number indicates the size of the valve element and thus indicates the valve model. The valve model can be found from a list that includes the number of steps from the fully open position to the fully closed position of the valve. Since the valve will never have less than the rated number of steps, the closest match (equal to or less than the determined number of electronic steps found) can be searched for in the list to find the valve model. The searched list provides an index number pointing to the connected valve model, where the number of electronic steps determined by the valve controller also points to the index number.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve element includes an internal threaded portion for permanent contact with the external threaded portion of the non-translating spindle. The valve element can be guided within the valve such that the valve element is prevented from rotating with the spindle. When the spindle rotates, the valve element translates between the open position and the closed position of the valve.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spindle is at least partially inserted into the valve element at all positions of the valve. The threaded connection between the spindle and the valve element requires that at least some contact occurs between the threaded portion of the spindle and the threaded portion of the valve element at all positions of the valve.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spindle is inserted farthest into the valve element at the fully open position of the valve and least inserted into the valve element at the closed position of the valve. In an alternative embodiment, the spindle can be inserted farthest into the valve element in the fully closed position of the valve. The axial movement of the valve element can be restricted by some adjacent structures (such as the valve seat at the fully closed position of the valve and the support at the fully open position of the valve).

[0026] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spindle penetrates at least completely through the threaded portion of the valve element to reach the fully open position of the valve. The valve element can include a corresponding threaded through hole that allows itself to be penetrated. Since the components of the valve (i.e., the spindle and the valve element) can move into each other during the operation of the valve, the size of the valve can be limited to a minimum.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, valve elements of different models have different lengths in the axial direction of the valve. The different lengths of the valve elements provide a simple way to distinguish different models of valve elements and thus a simple way to distinguish different models of valves. Different valve elements can abut against the same features of the valve, namely the valve seat and the support, at the end points of the valve element stroke.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main shaft is magnetically coupled to the rotor of the actuator. The rotor of the actuator and the main shaft are connected via magnetic coupling and both rotate together to move the valve element.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support is provided at the connection portion connecting the actuator and the valve. The connection portion can be located at a position opposite to the valve seat and can include any component that links the valve and the actuator.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a valve arrangement, which includes a valve and an actuator having a valve controller. The valve includes a valve element for closing and opening a valve passage. The valve arrangement is configured to perform the method described currently. Description of the Drawings

[0031] The features of various embodiments of the present invention can be combined in any suitable way. Further details and advantages of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 : shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the valve arrangement; and

[0033] Figure 2 : shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the method for identifying the valve model. Detailed Description

[0034] Figure 1 Shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the valve arrangement. The valve arrangement includes a valve 7, which is connected to an actuator 1 having a valve controller 11. The valve 7 can include any component required to change the fluid flow through the valve 7, such as a valve element 2 for closing and opening a valve passage 3. The valve element 2 is in permanent contact with a non-translating main shaft 4 via threaded portions 21, 41, wherein the main shaft 4 is configured to transmit only rotational movement between the actuator 1 and the valve element 2 to generate relative translational movement between the valve element 2 and the main shaft 4 during opening and closing of the valve 7. The method described currently identifies the valve 7 model by the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element 2. Thus, the valve 7 model can depend on the model of the valve element 2 used. All or some of the other components of the valve 7, such as the valve housing, can be the same in different models of the valve 7.

[0035] The valve controller 11 can be connected to the encoder 13 to provide information about the actuator. The encoder can be set as an integral part of the motor 14 of the actuator 1. The valve controller 11 can be used in a subsystem (such as a control loop) that controls the mechanical movement of the actuator 1. The valve controller 11 determines the misalignment between the electrical position and the mechanical position of the actuator 1, which is used to determine the moment when the valve element 2 is jammed at either end point. The position determined by the valve controller 11 reflects the mechanical position, while the number of pulses determines the electrical position. Compared with the coupling between the motor rotor and the motor stator of the motor 14, the magnetic coupling between the actuator 1 and the main shaft 4 is very rigid. This means that the electrical pulses sent to the actuator 1 may not be converted into mechanical movement because the valve element 2 is jammed or has reached the end position. The valve controller 11 detects the situation of insufficient movement. The actuator 1 can include at least some parts of the motor 14, the controller 11, the actuator housing 15, and / or the magnetic couplers 81, 82.

[0036] The term "valve controller 11" can be understood in a broad sense and can include additional controller components connected to the valve controller 11. The controller 11 can include a PCB and other electronic components that can be placed in the upper part of the actuator 1. The controller 11 can be hard-wired to the encoder 13. The encoder 13 can be regarded as a part of the controller 11, and / or the encoder can be physically and / or rigidly coupled to the motor rotor. Some or all components of the controller 11 can be arranged on the side of the motor 14 opposite to the positions of the magnetic couplers 81, 82. This arrangement of the controller 11 ensures that the electronic components of the controller 11 are placed as far away from the valve 7 as possible. Therefore, the adverse effects caused by changing the temperature of the valve 7 on the controller 11 can be controlled. In an alternative embodiment, the controller 11 can be placed completely or at least partially outside the actuator 1. In another embodiment, the valve controller 11 can be set to be in close contact with the motor stator of the actuator 1 and opposite to the position of the main shaft 4.

[0037] To determine the specific valve 7 model or valve 7 system connected to the actuator 1, the actuator 1 (such as the stepper motor 14) can be rotated until the actuator is jammed at the two extreme end points. A verification function can be automatically executed, which attempts to move the valve element 2 in either direction to check whether the valve element 2 is jammed, and then determines the valve 7 model. The main shaft 4 connected to the actuator 1 is permanently held in the same position, and only by rotating the main shaft 4 can the valve element 2 be moved between the two extreme end points. When the valve controller 11 no longer detects that the actuator 1 is mechanically rotating, the end points are found. One of these end points can be set as the "zero point".

[0038] Actuator 1 can cause the spindle 4 to rotate in one direction until the valve element 2 closes the valve 7 in the fully closed state of the valve 7 and can no longer cause the spindle 4 to rotate. Thus, the first end point can be determined. Then, the actuator 1 can rotate in the opposite direction until the valve 7 is fully open and can no longer cause the spindle 4 to rotate. When the valve controller 11 detects that the actuator 1 no longer rotates mechanically, the second end point is also found. Determine the number of electronic steps taken between these two end points. This number corresponds to the maximum possible stroke of the valve 7. This number indicates the size of the valve element 2 and thus indicates the model of the valve 7. The valve 7 model can be found from a list that includes the number of steps from the fully open position to the fully closed position of the valve 7. Since the valve 7 will never have less than the rated number of steps, the closest match (equal to or less than the determined number of electronic steps found) can be searched for in the list to find the valve 7 model. The searched list provides an index number pointing to the connected valve 7 model, where the number of electronic steps determined by the valve controller 11 also points to the index number.

[0039] The valve element 2 includes an internal threaded portion 21 for permanent contact with the external threaded portion 41 of the non-translating spindle 4. The internal threaded portion 21 of the valve element 2 can extend over the entire length of the cylindrical through-hole within the valve element 2. The through-hole within the valve element 2 can be adjacent to the hollow cylindrical portion 22 within the valve element 2. The hollow cylindrical portion 22 of the valve element 2 can extend up to the bottommost portion of the valve element 2 and can be close to the valve seat 71 in the closed position of the valve 7. The valve element 2 can be guided within the valve 7 such that rotation of the valve element with the spindle 4 is prevented. The guiding portion can extend axially within the valve 7 to prevent rotation of the valve element 2. When the spindle 4 rotates, the valve element 2 translates between Figure 1 the open position and the closed position of the illustrated valve 7.

[0040] The spindle 4 is at least partially inserted into the valve element 2 at all positions of the valve 7. The threaded connection between the spindle 4 and the valve element 2 requires that at least some contact occurs between the threaded portion 41 of the spindle 4 and the threaded portion 21 of the valve element 2 at all positions of the valve 7.

[0041] The spindle 4 is inserted farthest into the valve element 2 at the fully open position of the valve 7 and least into the valve element 2 at the closed position of the valve 7. In an alternative embodiment, the spindle 4 can be inserted farthest into the valve element 2 in the fully closed position of the valve 7. The axial movement of the valve element 2 can be restricted by some adjacent structures, such as being restricted by the valve seat 71 in the fully closed position of the valve 7 and being restricted by the support 5 in the fully open position of the valve 7.

[0042] The main shaft 4 penetrates at least completely through the threaded portion 21 of the valve element 2 to reach the fully open position of the valve 7. The valve element 2 may include a corresponding threaded through-hole that allows itself to be penetrated. Since the components of the valve 7 (i.e., the main shaft 4 and the valve element 2) can move into each other during the operation of the valve 7, the size of the valve 7 can be limited to a minimum.

[0043] Valve elements 2 and main shafts 4 of different models may have different lengths in the axial direction of the valve 7. The axial direction of the valve 7 may correspond to the longitudinal direction of the main shaft 4. The different lengths of valve elements 2 and main shafts 4 of different models provide a simple way to distinguish different models of valve elements 2 and thus provide a simple way to distinguish different models of valve 7. Different valve elements 2 can abut against the same features of the valve 7, i.e., the valve seat 71 and the support 5, at the end points of the valve element 2 stroke.

[0044] The main shaft 4 is magnetically coupled to the rotor of the actuator 1. The rotor interacts with the stator of the actuator 1 to rotate the rotor. Both of these components are located within the housing 15 of the actuator 1. The rotor of the actuator 1 may be fixedly connected to an external magnetically coupled rotor 81 via a shaft 12. The external magnetically coupled rotor 81 may be coaxially aligned with the internal magnetically coupled rotor 82 and may be arranged to surround the internal magnetically coupled rotor. The external magnetically coupled rotor 81 and the internal magnetically coupled rotor 82 may be magnetically coupled to each other such that both rotate together. Therefore, the rotor of the actuator 1, the shaft 12, and the main shaft 4 rotate together due to strong magnetic coupling to move the valve element 2. Therefore, the valve 7 includes elements that exhibit rotational movement and other elements that exhibit only translational movement during the opening and closing of the valve 7.

[0045] The support 5 is provided at the connection portion 6 connecting the actuator 1 and the valve 7. The connection portion 6 may be fixed to the actuator 1 via a clamp 8. The connection portion 6 may be located at a position opposite to the valve seat 71 and may include any component that links the valve 7 and the actuator 1. Two possible positions of the support are shown. In the upper position, the valve element 2 abuts against the surface surrounding the upper end portion of the threaded portion of the main shaft 4. In the upper position, any radially inwardly directed protrusion that can be contacted by the valve element 2 may be used as the support.

[0046] According to Figure 2 , the currently described method includes at least the following five steps:

[0047] Step 100 includes moving the valve element 2 to the first end point and / or the second end point of the valve element 2 stroke by moving the valve element 2 and the main shaft 4 relative to each other.

[0048] These two end points are detected by the valve controller. In step 200, the valve controller 11 determines the first end point of the stroke of the valve element 2 as the closed position of the valve 7, in which the valve element 2 closes the valve passage 3 and the valve controller 11 detects the first jamming of the actuator 1. The valve controller 11 does not need to distinguish between the open position and the closed position of the valve 7. The valve controller can only identify the jamming state of the actuator 1.

[0049] In step 300, the valve controller determines the second end point of the stroke of the valve element 2 as the open position of the valve, in which the valve element 2 contacts the support 5 of the valve 7 or the actuator 1 and the valve controller 11 detects the second jamming of the actuator 1.

[0050] It should be noted that steps 200 and 300 can be executed in the reverse order. Both can be part of step 100, or be executed before and after step 100, that is, the movement of the valve element 2 between the first end point and the second end point according to step 100 can be performed between the detection of these two end points. If the valve element 2 is already at the end point at the start of the method, it may not be necessary to move the valve element 2 to this end point. Instead, this end point can be directly determined. Only in this way can the valve element 2 be moved to the other end point in step 100 to determine the other end point.

[0051] In the case where the valve element 2 is in an intermediate position between the fully open position and the fully closed position of the valve 7 at the start of the method, step 100 can include moving the valve element 2 to one of the extreme positions of the valve 7 (i.e., moving to the fully open position or the fully closed position) as the first movement of the valve element 2. Once the valve controller has detected the jamming of the actuator 1, the rotation of the actuator can be reversed to make the valve element 2 reach the other extreme position of the valve 7.

[0052] In step 400, the valve controller determines a value representing the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element 2 and thus representing the valve 7 model from the total movement of the actuator 1 between the first end point and the second end point, that is, a value representing the distance between these two end points of the stroke of the valve element 2. This value can correspond to the number of electronic steps taken by the actuator 1 between the two end points.

[0053] Finally, in step 500, a value representing the valve 7 model is output, and thus the valve 7 model is identified. The value representing the valve 7 model can be looked up in a table, in which the value representing the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element 2 is associated with the valve 7 model. The output can be a signal of any suitable type. The controller can interact with the valve controller 11 to implement all or some of the steps of this method.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a valve model of a valve connected to an actuator (1) having a valve controller (11), the valve comprising a valve element (2) for closing and opening a valve passage (3), wherein, The valve element (2) is in permanent contact with the non-translating spindle (4) via threaded portions (21, 41), wherein the spindle (4) is arranged to transmit only rotational movement between the actuator (1) and the valve element (2) to generate relative movement between the valve element (2) and the spindle (4) during opening and closing of the valve, and wherein the method identifies the valve type by the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element (2) and comprises the following steps: Moving the valve element (2) to a first end point and a second end point of the stroke of the valve element (2) by moving the valve element (2) and the spindle (4) relative to each other, The valve controller (11) determines the first end point of the stroke of the valve element (2) as the closed position of the valve, in which the valve element (2) closes the valve passage (3) and the valve controller (11) detects a first jamming of the actuator (1), The valve controller determines the second end point of the stroke of the valve element (2) as the open position of the valve, in which the valve element (2) contacts the support (5) of the valve or the actuator (1) and the valve controller (11) detects a second jamming of the actuator (1), The valve controller determines from the total movement of the actuator (1) between the first end point and the second end point a value representing the maximum allowable stroke of the valve element (2) and thus representing the valve type, i.e., the value representing the distance between these two end points of the stroke of the valve element (2), and Outputting the value representing the valve type and thereby identifying the valve type.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve element (2) includes an internal threaded portion (21) for permanent contact with the external threaded portion (41) of the non-translating spindle (4).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spindle (4) is at least partially inserted into the valve element (2) in all positions of the valve.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spindle (4) is inserted farthest into the valve element (2) in the fully open position of the valve and least into the valve element (2) in the closed position of the valve.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spindle (4) at least completely penetrates the threaded portion (21) of the valve element (2) to reach the fully open position of the valve.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Valve elements (2) of different types have different lengths in the axial direction of the valve.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spindle (4) is magnetically coupled to the rotor of the actuator (1).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The support (5) is provided at the connecting portion (6) connecting the actuator (1) and the valve.

9. A valve arrangement comprising a valve and an actuator (1) having a valve controller (11), the valve comprising a valve element (2) for closing and opening a valve passage (3), characterized in that, The valve arrangement is arranged to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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